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Wednesday, 23 March 2016

NZ Media blackout on climate change in the Pacific

The
Labour Party and media conspire to silence news of taskforce investigating
climate change in the Pacific islandsSeemorerocks

I was contacted just under a week ago by a friend with good contacts who alerted me to a story involving the cover-up of what should be a major story in this countryIn short the Labour MP, Su'a William Sio was leading a fact-finding taskforce to Pacific nations affected by climate change.The
official Labour Party press release announcing Sio's taskforce was
very vague on the details, (possibly deliberately so, so as to lessen
any media attention for Sio's climate change taskforce).

"Su'a
reports that there has been no interest from the media, for his
taskforce and his mission to shine a spotlight on the effects of
climate change as it affects the native peoples of the Pacific."

"Su'a
reports that he has invited the media to travel with him but has been
ignored. In his own words Su'a says; "So far no one is
interested."

""He
does not seem to be getting it from his party or the establishment in
general.

I was asked if I could do something to facilitate Sio's worthy message to get out, including a skype interview.As I never heard any more from my source who appeared to have lost interest.I forgot about it until this morning when I got another message, this time from the initial source of the information

"SWS
initiative is to shine a light on the plight of the Pacific front
line cllimate change states and
bring his findings back to New Zealand. Hopefully to expose the under
reported immediate consequences that these people are suffering right
now, as a result of climate change."

"One
of the main injustices that SWS will be investigating is the refusal
of the New Zealand governments (both National and Labour) to let
allow climate refugees into New Zealand. And how the people of
Kiribati and Tuvalu feel about this......

"I
was wondering, have you been able to do anything with them. SWS says
that he (and his team), are open to being interviewed by Skype.

"Are
you able to do this? "

In the meantime I have left this story in other capable hands and I hope that there will be appropriate followup.

A
Labour Caucus taskforce will next week visit the climate change
frontline states of Tuvalu and Kiribati, says Labour’s Pacific
Climate Change spokesperson Su’a William Sio.

“We
will meet with the Tuvalu and Kiribati governments and communities.
There is a lot of support for our fact finding mission.

“Labour
also has the support of Kiribati’s former President Tong and
Tuvalu’s Minister of Environment, Taukelina Finikaso, who visited
the Pasifika Festival over the weekend.

“We
won’t just be talking to government officials, we’ll be talking
to a range of people on the ground including students and young
adults about how they’re coping with climate change, and their
hopes and dreams for the future of their homelands.

“Our
taskforce will also explore policy ideas the Pacific nations have on
climate change. How there can be migration with dignity. We will also
hear about the challenges they face with accessing the UN Green
Climate Fund for adaptation and mitigation projects.

“Our
visit and future climate change missions are an important step
towards repairing a credible New Zealand voice in the Pacific on
climate change. The actions of the Key Government have undermined the
reputation we once had on this crucial issue,” says Su’a William
Sio.